According to Pete Storrie, The
Treasurer for the Red River Dirt Riders M.C., the hosts of this event,
there were actually five different events over the two day period. Two
Qualifier events, scored separately, and combined for an overall on day
two. Also, and at the same time, the riders were scored for two one
day National Enduro events...rounds 11 & 12. Then on
Sunday, at around 9:00, they started a support class, consisting of lots
of our local hot-shots, who ran the same three loops as the national
riders, but only rode each once, as opposed to the three loops
twice. The support class was scored against each other only.

Due to the restrictions on bringing
in any bikes, or four wheelers, not in the competition, my coverage of
this event was limited to those areas, which I could access by foot
before the riders arrived.

...so, after the riders left the
start / check point, they headed east, & south for about half a mile,
then into the first of 10 special 'test' sections, in this case, a 1.5
mile long, grass track in what was a camping area at the last Cross
Country event.

Just before we left the start / check area, I was
introduced to a guy named George McMahon, a long time Enduro Guru, who
briefed us on the events format. As far as I can tell, it goes
somethin' like this.

You leave the check point on your minute, &
ride the scheduled loop. There were three, each averaging 15 miles. The
riders are given a specific amount of time to make it back to where they
started ( the only check point in this event ). Then they would be sent
off on a different loop, & upon their return sent out again on the
third loop. During each loop, there were these test sections some grass
tracks, some terrain tests. It would be these sections in which you
would be timed to the second. The fastest through the test section gets a
zero point score, with everybody else getting points added to their score
depending on how far back from the leaders time they finished the
test.

In
the test sections, the key is to hang it out a little...so be it !

The
Camera doesn't really show how steep & gnarly this hill is...nor does
Kurt Caselli !!

So
the key then, I guess it to stay 'on time' through the loops, trying to
save energy, body, & machine, then get with it as needs be, during the
special tests. Yeah right. I heard many local riders say that " this
was one of the tougher tracks that we've raced on" & " there
was no time to rest, one obstacle after another". Add to
that, the fact that outside of Patman Racing's air conditioned van, it was
over a thousand degrees...Kelvin.

Yet make no mistake, most of the guys moved with some relative
expediency. As I stopped to take photographs, it was remarkable to see how
closely they all stayed to their times, & each other. We'd see # 101
come by, then 201, & a moment 301...ten minutes later we'd sure
enough be seeing 111, 211, 311, & 411. What's so remarkable about
that? This is after 80 miles !!

A
couple of the fourth minute guys, during a 'conserve' moment. Fred
Hoess ( 404 ) took 3rd for the 2 days, Kurt, 7th